The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on violent crime, confirming the rescue of 28 kidnapped individuals and the arrest of 10 male suspects during a series of coordinated operations. The Command also recovered a range of items including firearms, ammunition, vehicles, motorcycles, cash, and other exhibits linked to criminal activities. These successes were achieved through collaborative efforts involving the police, local security outfits like the Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards, as well as community members.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, disclosed these developments in a statement delivered through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe. According to the Commissioner, these operations form part of a sustained campaign aimed at eradicating the presence of violent criminals across the state and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
One of the key operations occurred on May 18, 2025, when officers from Umumba Police Division, working with local security groups and residents, rescued four kidnapped victims — two men and two women — who were abducted along the Umumba-Ndiuno-Aguoba Road in Ezeagu LGA. During the rescue, four suspects were apprehended and are currently assisting with investigations.
On the same day, operatives from 9th Mile Division responded to an attempted abduction of a woman. The swift police intervention thwarted the crime, and one of the suspects, who was almost lynched by an angry mob, was rescued, hospitalized, and placed under investigation.
Earlier, on May 17, police from Okpuje Division, alongside Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch personnel, carried out a bush-combing operation in a forest bordering Enugu and Kogi states. They intercepted two men carrying cash and supplies believed to be intended for ransom payments. The team later engaged armed kidnappers in a shootout, forcing them to flee and abandon both the victims and weapons, including a pump-action gun and live cartridges.
On May 14, 2025, a joint team comprising police, military, and local security outfits rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Amaka-Okpodu, Kogi State. The victims, abducted days earlier while returning from a traditional wedding, were freed after intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of firearms, a minibus, and motorcycles.
Additionally, on May 13, operatives from the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad rescued another victim along the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway. The victim’s Toyota Camry was recovered, along with a Toyota Corolla and a Lexus Jeep used by the kidnappers, who fled the scene.
Commissioner Giwa reaffirmed the Command’s dedication to maintaining public safety and emphasized that efforts to track and apprehend fleeing suspects continue.